By Kabiru Ibrahim Ɗanguguwa PhD
I first met Ibrahim Zubairu in 2012 when we were selected as part of 501 students sponsored by Engineer Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to pursue master’s Degrees abroad. Ibrahim championed the establishment of unity among 501 sponsored students from Dawakin Tofa Local Government. As eldest, age-wise and in terms of experience, he understood our plights of lacking the means to afford the essential items one required to prepare for oversee journey. At that time, only a few of us could afford laptops and other items for the Odyssey ahead of us. As such, Mu’azzam being the only active politician among the sponsored students, intimated the then Caretaker Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government, Alhaji Kambai Sumaila, to give us a hand. I left before receiving any gesture from the local government authority. However, Ibrahim succeeded in securing fifty thousand Naira (NGN 50,000) for each one of us. He sent the money to everyone. I received mine through my elder brother who collected the money from Ibrahim.
Our relationship continued in such a way that I considered him as an elder brother whom I admired. When Mu’azzam and I returned from abroad with our MSc certificates, we were employed by the prestigious Northwest University established in 2012 to absorb scholars trained abroad. Naturally, although we teach in different faculties, our brotherhood was cemented. I still consider him a senior colleague with years of teaching experience in Secondary School. His office was located on the 3rd floor and mine is still on the 4th floor. I can remember a day when Mu’azzam called me to meet him and discuss how we could secure admissions for Dawakin Tofa indigenes. He told me that “more of us could be produced in the future”. Our discussion resulted in joint efforts by the likes of Dr. Nura Yaro, Ado Magaji Mansur, Mu’azzam, and my humble self.
Mu’azzam inspired me to be an active politician. Since 2019, Mu’azzam has become my confidant politically. He taught me how to be an active, dedicated, selfless, and compassionate politician. He was more than all. He touched many lives through politics. He was the most active Kwankwasiyya scholar in Dawakin Tofa Local Government politics from 2019 until his death on Wednesday, 9th April 2025. Immediately after the victory of Abba Kabir Yusuf in the 2023 gubernatorial election, Mu’azzam persuaded me to convene a meeting vis-a-vis the future of youths especially those who actively participated in politics. His advice resulted in convening several meetings at my residence. A major theme in the meetings was to have as many responsible and dedicated people as possible in the corridor of power. This, according to him would help in delivering dividends of democracy to the electorate. I can remember vividly, Sani Isa Romi (now SSA to the Executive Governor), Auwalu Dahiru Dambazau (Right Honorable Speaker, Dawakin Tofa Local Government), Idris S. Alhaji (Honorable Councilor of Dawanau Ward), Alhaji Salisu Salu (a Supervisory Councilor), Mahmud Abba Ibrahim (former Caretaker Councilor of Education), my humble self (Former Caretaker Chairman, Dawakin Tofa Local Government) and himself (who served as Hajj Centre until his death on 9th April 2025). One of the interesting things we discussed at one of the meetings was the issue of the Caretaker Chairman. I remember saying that Mu’azzam should be our candidate. My suggestion was in cognizance of his experience integrity, dedication, selflessness, benevolence, and goodwill. However, he declined and suggested that I should be the right candidate citing various reasons with which I did not agree. He had to call me to further convince me. Since that day, Mu’azzam and members of a committee formed to make that dream a reality couldn’t sleep until 8th March 2024 when I was sworn in as the Caretaker Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government. He served as Secretary of the Committee. While serving as Caretaker Chairman, he stood solidly behind me until 3rd September 2024, when I resigned my appointment.
He was appointed as Amirul-Hajj (Pilgrimage Center Officer) without vying for the position. We were in Sanusi Barure Dawkin Tofa’s office when the NNPP Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government called him and congratulated him. He was unanimously selected by the Dawakin Tofa delegation who attended a meeting at Coronation in Kano State Government House. I remember Mu’azzam telling Mahmud Abba Ibrahim and me that he prayed for us during the 2023 Hajj and he was hopeful that Allah would answer his prayers. Thus, my Chairmanship and Mahmud Councillorship were part of Mu’azzam prayers. The most important prayer for us is to recite Shahada as our last word. Shahada was Mu’azzam’s last word. May Allah accept his Shahada. May Allah also make Shahada our last word.
Politically, Mu’azzam touched many lives as well. I was driving to attend his funeral prayers when I met some ladies on their way to condole with his family. They couldn’t hold their tears when they saw me. One of the ladies curiously asked others about my relation with Mu’azzam, she was told that I was Kabiru Danguguwa. He reminded me of a scenario where I assisted her through Mu’azzam without knowing her. She was just one out of the uncountable. He always wanted us to assist people.
Two days after his demise, his wife (I cannot call her a widow) narrated that one of his Wills (Wasiyya) was to complete the distribution of Spaghetti he started in Ramadan. Due to the transient illness, he could not complete the distribution of the usual Ramadan gesture to a few individuals. His wife also informed my wife that Ibrahim used to distribute his used clothes to the less privileged every year. He thus, directed her in the Wil to give out his clothes as usual. Mu’azzam used to distribute Sallah clothes to orphans every year. Mu’azzam was loved by many because of his benevolence.
He was a loving and romantic husband and a caring father. A dedicated academic who was about to complete his PhD from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He was a good teacher, a selfless politician, and a dedicated Muslim. He was such a person who struggled to make ends meet. He was a teacher, a businessman, a farmer, and a strategic politician.
He left six children and bereaved a wife.
I don’t have the strength to write a long tribute. I miss a confidant who didn’t allow me to go astray. He was my mentor and guardian. I respected him. I admired him. Now that he is no more, I learned a lot from the life he lived.
Allah Ya yi masa rahma Ya kula da bayansa. Ya bamu hakurin rashinsa.
Kabiru Ibrahim Danguguwa, PhD.